What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 158

Kaia stood nearby, her expression totally unreadable, making no move to interrupt Noelle's chat with her daughter.

Just then, the sound of a car pulling up echoed from outside.

A moment later, Finnian walked in, wearing a sharp gray overcoat, bringing a gust of the cool evening air with him. As he took off his coat, Noelle naturally stepped forward to take it from him.

Underneath, Finnian wore a tailored suit. Seeing his daughter, he immediately crouched down—right as Giles walked past with the pink roses, chatting with a maid about finding a vase.

Whatever Finnian was about to say to Brynlee died on his lips.

His gaze turned icy, locking onto the roses, and his mood visibly darkened.

While checking on Brynlee, Kaia happened to catch his expression.

It was just a split second, but she saw the intense, territorial glare.

Was he jealous?

Was someone sending his precious first love flowers trespassing on his sacred territory?

As Noelle turned to hang up his coat, she noticed Finnian staring at the roses. Her eyes flashed, but she kept quiet.

Finnian picked Brynlee up. She pointed at the flowers. "Daddy, I want to smell them and see if they're nice."

Finnian carried her over. As Brynlee leaned in to smell them, he reached out and casually ripped two petals off one of the roses.

Seeing Finnian take charge of their daughter, Kaia headed upstairs to find Josephine.

She wasn't trying to score points with the matriarch; Josephine had specifically asked her to come up and massage her shoulders.

Noelle walked over to the spot where the flowers had been, noticing the crushed rose petals Finnian had tossed into the trash can. He hadn't asked a single question about who sent them, but her heart fluttered wildly at the silent display of jealousy.

Standing on the stairs, Kaia looked down at the scene: a man struggling to hide his feelings, a woman basking in them, and an innocent child caught in the middle.

The golden hour light filtered into Josephine's room, which always smelled faintly of sandalwood and herbal remedies. Josephine was reclining while Kaia stood behind her, expertly massaging her neck and shoulders.

Josephine visibly relaxed. "Thank goodness you come by every day to take care of an old woman like me, or I'd never get a decent night's sleep."

Kaia murmured softly, "Staying in good spirits is the most important thing."

Josephine nodded, a hint of expectation in her eyes. "Have you thought about what I brought up last time? I don't ask for much these days, but seeing the family grow and ensuring our legacy is something I think about every single day. I know the company shares don't tempt you, but look at it as an insurance policy."

Kaia paused for a moment. "Let's talk about that later, Grandma. Let me do your knees now."

Outside the door, Elaine was just about to walk in carrying a porcelain bowl of ginseng soup.

Hearing their conversation, she stopped dead in her tracks.

At the mention of "company shares," her perfectly manicured face tightened into a furious glare.

It was impossible for her not to be paranoid.

"Kaia, you can head downstairs for now. I'll drink the soup."

Kaia immediately stepped back. "Yes, Grandma."

At the dinner table, the atmosphere was superficially pleasant. Everyone focused on the extravagant spread.

There was only light, polite conversation, mostly dominated by Brynlee's endless chatter.

Elaine sat to Josephine's left, her brow furrowed, occasionally shooting Kaia evaluating, icy glares.

Since Noelle had been officially recognized as a Sanders, she hadn't moved back into the estate full-time, but she stayed over for a few days here and there. Most of the time, she stayed in her own luxury condo.

Finnian was entirely focused on feeding Brynlee, patiently cutting up the vegetables and meat she couldn't manage on her own.

After finishing half a bowl of rice, Josephine looked up, scanning the table before her eyes landed on Noelle.

"Noelle," Josephine called out quietly.

Noelle tensed, quickly putting down her fork and replying respectfully, "Yes, Grandma."

Josephine scrutinized her for a moment before speaking. "You are officially a Sanders now. Your status is different. I understand that since you're single, you might want to explore dating, but... moving forward, stop having these flowers and gifts delivered to the estate. It's embarrassing for people to see."